Trump's controversial border wall project, a cornerstone of his election campaign, shows no signs of disappearing, despite it causing the longest government shutdown in US history.  Late last year the crowd-funding site GoFundMe saw two rival campaigns centred around the project, one to raise funds for it (which was the more successful of the two) and one to raise money to buy ladders to help people cross the border wall.  The ladder campaign was a little tongue in cheek, with organisers stating that the money would actually be going to non-profit organisation The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).  They kept the name of the campaign focused [...]

We love a bit of innovation here at Midland Ladders, and every year the Ladder Association runs a trade in event, which allows people to get a discount when trading in an old broken ladder for a new one.  They have also, in the past, asked for pictures of the worst ladder users around the globe, and it’s been the source of some giggles and some sharp intakes of breath over the years.  This year, they are calling their campaign “get a grip”, focusing on safe and proper ladder use and we thought this invention was a good fit with their focus.   Getting a grip is actually a really important [...]

The May bank holidays are the perfect opportunity for home and garden maintenance jobs and a good old spring clean, and a long weekend is the ideal time to get in the loft and have a proper clear out.  Ideally you will have a loft ladder in place to access your loft, rather than relying on a step ladder or another unsafe access method.  If you're looking for a loft ladder, either to replace your existing access route or to replace an old or faulty loft ladder take a look at our range which includes electric loft ladders that can be operated at the touch of a button.  These new electric [...]

The Bowder Stone in the Lake District is one of the UK's quirkiest tourist attractions and has been attracting visitors since the early 1800s, when visitors would marvel at the huge rock, estimated to weigh over 1,000 tonnes and standing at a height taller than six people It appears to be balanced on one edge, which gave visitors a sense of fear that it might suddenly fall over – a fear which delighted and excited tourists 100 years ago.  It is thought to have landed in that position after falling from Bowder Crag, 200 metres above where the stone now sits.   Joseph Pocklington, an eccentric gentleman, discovered the stone in [...]

Even people who regularly use ladders can get into trouble at height, as one Welsh farmer found out when he fell from his ladder while repairing a barn roof.  Owain Roberts had been keen to repair the storm damage, so the barn would be a warm and dry place for his livestock, when the 15 foot ladder he was using slipped out from underneath him, sending him sliding gracefully to the ground, or so he thought.  As he reached the end of his descent his left leg got tangled in the rungs of the ladder, twisting and breaking it in twelve places.   As he had been working alone, he fashioned [...]

Tanker trucks are a familiar sight on the roads, taking petrol, food products and even hazardous materials all over the country and abroad.  We have all gone to fill up the car to find the forecourt is closed while they refill the main tanks from one of these vehicles, but have you ever really considered how these vehicles get filled in the first place and what about the maintenance?   Well, those in the industry know that a very special type of ladder is required for filling, cleaning and maintenance and that little ladder fixed to the rear of the vehicle won't cut it when serious work needs to be done.  [...]

Hardly a week goes by without news of a mass shooting or hostage situation happening in America, so we weren't surprised to hear about the incident in Los Angeles where a man shot and killed an employee in Trader Joes, then held staff and customers hostage until the police were able to gain access and arrest him two hours later.  It transpired that shortly before the hostage incident Gene Atkins, the suspect, had shot his grandmother and injured another woman during a carjacking.   What did really make us notice this incident, was the fact that one employee enabled several colleagues to escape the building with some quick thinking and an [...]

It's no secret we love a good story about animals and ladders, after all it's not something you see every day.  This tale (or should that be tail?) of a pet following his owner on to a roof made us smile when we read it, because the reason the little chap ventured up there was because he missed his owner (despite still being able to see him!).  Bulldog pup Boris, who belongs to roofer Oli Leathers, had been getting lonely in the garden of the house he was working on and had been barking like mad to get his attention, with his paws on the ladder.  The last thing Leathers expected [...]

There are not many actions that haven't been the subject of a world record attempt, and ladders are no exception.  Two motorcycling border patrol guards, who are also part of the motorcycling stunt team 'Janbaz' from India set a new record on the 24th of April 2018, when they rode continuously for 10 hours, 34 minutes and 27 seconds perched atop a ladder and a pole attached to their Royal Enfield Bullet bikes.  The men broke the previous record, also held by Indians, which was 9 hours, 4 minutes and 5 seconds, set by the Indian Army.   An Australian man holds the record for the longest time balanced on a [...]